The graying of the long-term unemployed

Through the recession, older unemployed Americans have had a tougher time returning to work than their younger counterparts. But as the economic slump drags on and long-term unemployment has reached historic levels, their ranks have increased even faster than other age groups.

Here’s new data from Pew showing the age disparity. Last quarter, a whopping 43 percent of unemployed workers older than 55 were out of work for a year or longer—up from about 37 percent a year ago. It’s just one of the ways in which older Americans are faring the worst in the recession.